[Adam]

I always had to deal with difficult people, in the course of my High School years. One of them, actually pursuing me right now and just right beside me.

Speaking of, Tiffany was currently moving onto the guy supposedly pursuing me, and not her, FYI, settling down beside Max and oh-so-casually squeezing between us. And as if that wasn't enough, she kept nudging me until I'm almost falling off the seat and had no choice but to stand instead. She leaned into Max unnecessarily close and ran a finger with a long, manicured nail down his cheek to his neck in an attempt to be sensual. And I don't know if Max's expression meant it was working or not.

"Ahem." I scowled.

Tiffany pointedly ignored me. Instead, moving on to his lap. "Here I was, wonderin' what's lil' ol' me's gotta do to get you at an arm's length." She giggled. "What a treat. Do you mind if I just eat you up now?"

Max turned unbelievably red.

"Oooh~" Jessica squealed. "Go for it, Tiff."

Okay. So I've dealt with obstinate boys that lived with me in orphanages and foster homes, wanting my share of cookies. I tried not to cry when this one girl even tore off my puppy stuff animal's arm when we fought over it that one nap time at Kinder Garten before I lost my parents.

I gave up those cookies to those boys and I eventually forgave Sabrina for killing Mr. Snuggles. But Max was neither food nor a stuff toy. Regardless of my still vague feelings for him, I am not backing out from this fight.

So, as the Adam, how do you tell a girl, who is currently making a move in seducing the man who may or may not be the object of your affections, to back the hell off?

"Er, Adam? You're seething. Are you okay?" Julian asked nervously.

I was too busy keeping my eyes trained on Max to care that I was, in fact, uncharacteristically seething. "Max, should I take this as a declaration that you're 'no longer interested?' If so, I'm gonna need that ring back." I hissed.

"Woo~" Koh whistled. "When did Adam get feisty?"

Katherine spoke worriedly. "I don't think you should sound happy about that."

"Whoa, wait, what? A ring? You guys engaged or something?" Julian blinked.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Julian, not now. Reaaaaad the mood." I deadpanned.

"Uh... I... Am... Huh... Interested? Uh... What ring?" Max blinked, unfocused. He looked my way for a second.

I made sure to raise a meaningful brow at that quick second.

"I-" Max snapped out of whatever trance he was in and moved aside, pushing Tiffany off him in the process. He looked at her. "Whoa! I, uh, sorry babe-" I gave him a hard look. "Uh! Th-that is, Tiffany was it? Sorry but I'm interested in Adam right now!"

I tried not to look smug or anything close to that.

"What?" Tiffany asked sharply, glaring at me. "Him? God, why is it always him taking all the goods? You already stole my Tyler away. What, are you actually a two-timer and people still praise you for that?" She growled. "I swear, if it wasn't for you I'd be running this social pyramid."

"Tyler is his own person, Tiffany. Don't talk as if he's a possession, or that he even ever was your possession." I snapped, agitated. Regardless of Tyler and I breaking up, I was entitled as his first to defend his virtue.

Koh was enjoying this.

Maybe too much.

"Yeah bitch. And no one's gonna call Adam a two-timer and get away with it. 'Sides, he's single now and news flash! Tons of people are considering going after him! Matched up with Adam, you're only second choice."

I looked at her, surprised. "Er, just where on earth are you getting your information?"

"What?! More competition?" Max complained.

I turned to him in disbelief. "That's your question?!"

Tiffany looked absolutely furious. Then, all too quickly, she turned smug. "Oh? So you're single now, are you? Then, he's not entitled to being yours either. So on record, Warren's still up for grabs." At that, she grabbed the blond by the collar. "So as for a date to homecoming, I call dibs then."

I looked incredelous. I sputtered before getting the coherency to speak again. "Uh, ha, maybe you should ask him first if he's fine with that? You can't exactly call dibs on a person."

Tiffany looked at Max. "Fine. So what do you say, big guy?"

I looked at Max, too. Waiting for him to say something obnoxious and brush her off with his usual bravado. But to my surprise, he just stared at her.

Of all times for his ego to take a rain check!

"Max!"

"Er, yeah babe?"

Tiffany scrunched up her nose in distaste at that.

"You know, it's impolite not to respond to a question."

[Max]

I jolted when Adam called my name again. "Er, yeah babe?"

"You know, it's impolite not to respond to a question."

I don't get him sometimes. Why did he look so annoyed? I don't think I've done anything that would have him make that look. I mean, if anything, shouldn't he be giving an annoyed look to the girl currently dissing him just because I was... Interested in... Him...

Hold on. Was he jealous? Hmm... I wonder...

Heh.

"Er, ahem." I cleared my throat. "That depends. Are outsiders invited?"

Adam looked taken aback.

Interesting.

"Does it matter, hot stuff?" Tiffany winked coquettishly. "You are in the in-crowd anyway."

Wow. This girl is pretty in to me. Even moreso than Kara or Lacey ever had been. My ego is enjoying this.

"Well, flattery gets you anywhere." I smirked. "I might just feel compelled give you a piece of this." I stroke a pose.

Tiffany's eyes sparkled. Then something hit me in the head.

I grunted in pain. "Ack! Crap, that hurts!" I hissed, holding the back of my head. "Who's the jerk that hit m-"

Julian was glaring at me, with his thumb pointing behind him. I gawked, seeing Adam's back moving away from where we were.

Crap.

"Adam, wait a minute! I-" I fumbled on my feet, my catching his bag and quickly snatched my own. "Adam, babe, wait up! Your bag!"

As I moved to catch up, I heard someone huff. "I really hate that guy."

~o~

Damn. That guy can sure speed walk.

"Adam, wait for me! Hey, I said wait up babe! Are you hearing me? Wai-"

Adam turned on me, looking pissed, for whatever reasons. "Am I hearing you? Do you even hear yourself?!"

"Uhhh..."

"She was so evidently fraternizing with you with romantic intents, and you were letting her! Infront of me!" Adam seethed. "I just don't get you! It's infuriating, damn it!"

I blinked. That was out of character from the level-headed Adam Sanchez.

It was kinda hot.

"First, you do something for me, like when you took me out on a date, with the clichcé chocolates and flowers, even if the chocolates were too exquisite to be called a cliché, drove me to school and bought me take out, and planned my birthday and those rings even if they were from Tyler..." Adam rambled, panting and paused for breath, before continuing. "Then you do something contradictory like this and ruin the whole thing!"

"Like this?"

"Yes, this! Like the incidents with Lacey, leaving me hanging without warning after taking me to school and flirting with Tiffany!" Adam sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't know anymore what to make of the feelings you claim to have for me or my own feelings towards you."

"Claim? I'm not claiming to have feelings for you, I really do! Wasn't I already showing that?!" I protested indignantly. "Are you thick?!"

Adam looked taken aback. "Are you deaf? What did I just say about contradiction?"

"Oh come on, we're talking about my feelings, not my mista-wait a minute." I paused, thinking of everything Adam had been saying.

Adam raised a brow.

Another pause. Then, "You have feelings for me?"

Adam blinked, before he let out a short gasp, slapping a hand over his mouth.

I grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"D-don't look so happy, idiot! I didn't mean it like that at all!" Adam waved his arms around. "Don't let it get to your head-wait, what are you... Okay, not another step closer!"

I ignored him and continued my approach. "Sooo~ what feeling is that, exactly?"

"Like I'll ever tell!"

"Oh-ho? Do I have to make you?"

"Max," Adam said warningly. "Don't even think about it."

"Think what?" I grinned.

"I don't know, you got a scheming look, just don't."

Again, I ignored him and pounced. The brunette yelped and made an attempt to get away but I was quicker. I pinned him onto the nearest car.

"So, you do have feelings for me and you're still playing hard to get." I smirked. "Well, I guess I do like a little challenge but if you already have feelings for me..."

Adam pushed against me. "Max, don't get ahead of yourself. Feelings can mean anything... Like irritation and aggravation." He snapped. "Get off already!"

"Nope, not until you're a little more honest." I said, leaning a little closer.

"M-Max, what-seriously, stop it."

I shook my head and nuzzled his neck. "That's no good, you didn't say the magic word."

"Max, I'm not kidding, I want you to stop."

I didn't listen. Have you ever smelled him? Inhaled his scent? It was intoxicating. According to Mia, Adam doesn't use cologne or perfume unless there's some occasion that demands it. So this was all his. I moved to place one hand against his hip and the other to the other side of his neck that I wasn't nuzzling.

And it was wet. That made stop my ministrations.

"Huh?"

"Please," a small voice from Adam spoke. "Stop."

A chill down my spine, and it wasn't the good kind. I slowly pulled back a bit, enough to look at Adam's face, and gawked at the sight of a tearful face.

"Whoa! Adam, what-I was just teasing, why-?" I was stunned.

On one hand, Adam was freakin' adorable right now. On another, I never saw him cry like this before. I actually felt guilty that I'm the cause.

"I-I told you to s-stop because I really di-didn't like it," Adam sniffed and choke on a sob, rubbing his eyes with his arm. "That's why I broke things off with Tyler."

"Eh?"

"He got too eager in a make-out session, because I was spending too much time with Ezra, helping him with this song he was composing for Payton." Adam had his eyes shut. He didn't want to look at me, and that kinda hurt. "He was jealous."

Well, yeah, I would be too. And I am now, actually. Although I lighten up a bit when it comes to Tyler since he did give the rings and all, but still. The idea that he probably had more than one make-out sessions with Adam ticks me off.

"He got my shirt off and touch me in places I wasn't ready for him to touch... Honestly, doesn't he know how painful it would be to be on the receiving end on a gay relationship when things get intimate?"

I twitched at that, my hold on Adam tightening.

"If Julian hadn't arrived my place for a surprise visit, who know where things might've gone?" Adam shook his head, calming down a bit. At the very least, he stopped choking and sobbing. "Tyler kept apologizing the following days but I still broke it off with him."

That didn't set right in the pit of my stomach. "Does that mean... I also blew it?" That would just suck. I just found out that Adam had a sliver of feelings for me, to mess up now...

"..." Adam was silent for a long time, probably thinking, before letting out a sigh. "Well, you had enough control to stop by yourself so I guess there's that. But I swear, if this happens again-"

I didn't let him finish and pulled him into my arms, relieved beyond my mind. So I didn't lose him... "Thank you, god, I wouldn't know how to deal with it if you ended things with us now." I held him tighter. "Just the thought... Jeez, I'll be more careful, I won't jump you again, and I won't be too handsy, just... Just don't give up on this thing we have, whatever it is."

"Max, you-" Adam sounds shock.

"I'm what?"

Adam shook his head. "Nothing," Letting out a breath, he wrapped his own arms around my waist, to my surprise.

God, I really love him...

"Honestly," Adam let out a short laugh. "What am I gonna do with you?"

... Love me, too.